Vehicle standards.
Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-241
in effectSec. 8-241. - Vehicle standards.
(a) In general. Every certified vehicle for hire operated upon the public streets of the city shall be kept clean, sanitary, fit and of good appearance, and in a safe condition for the transportation of passengers.
(b) Taxis. In addition to all other applicable requirements of this division, all taxicabs shall conform to the following standards:
(1) The color scheme for taxicabs shall be the same as that proposed in the application for a certificate and all taxicabs within a company must be the same. A diagram of the vehicle with colors, color number, name, and any logo must be attached. Any changes must be approved by the director of parking and public transit.
(2) Each taxicab operated under this division shall have a securely affixed roof light with the words "taxicab," "taxi," or "cab," or the company name printed thereon; and, in addition, the telephone number or company name may be printed thereon in such manner as to be visible at all times. The roof light shall also be equipped with a top light actuated when the meter is in the hired mode and such light must be visible at all times and in all directions 360 degrees. Taxicabs may be equipped with an advertising sign known in the trade as a "taxi topper" that is a triangular shaped sign with a static, non-movable, non-digital display, and that is no larger than 42 inches by 15 inches with advertising allowed only on the left and right side of the sign. There is no vested right to maintain a taxi topper on a taxi.
(3) Each taxicab shall be equipped with a taximeter conforming to the provision of section 8-271.
(c) Airport shuttles, special shuttles, and taxis. In addition to all other applicable requirements of this division, all airport shuttles, special shuttles, and taxicabs shall conform to the following:
(1) The trade name of the company must be placed on the outside of each front door (sliding door in the case of vans or rear corner panel) of each airport shuttle, special shuttle, or taxicab in letters not less than three inches in height, in a permanent manner, and in contrasting color to background.
(2) The permit number assigned to each taxicab, special shuttle, or airport shuttle, by the city shall be placed on both sides of the body and on the front end and rear end of each taxicab, special shuttles, or airport shuttle in numerals three inches in height. Said number must be visible from all sides of the vehicle.
(d) Age of eligible livery vehicles or certified vehicles for hire. Except in the case of classic or vintage limousines, at the time of the initial and each annual inspection thereafter an eligible livery vehicle or certified vehicle for hire shall be no older than ten model years of age from the current model year (as measured from June 30 of the calendar year following the model year), unless the certified company requests in writing that the director of parking and public transit grant a waiver to this requirement. The waiver may be issued only if the vehicle meets or exceeds applicable standards and requirements of this division. An age waiver may be renewed annually upon application, inspection, and approval of the director of parking and public transit.
(Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)
Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8BU_ARTIVVEHI_DIV2LIVE_SDIVVEAUCOINVE_S8-241VESTFetched: 11/6/2026